Democrats urge unity under Clintons' shadow
Tuesday, 26 Aug 2008 16:37
Michelle Obama praises husband Barack's humble nature as Democratic party convention begins in Denver
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The Democratic party has begun its convention in a week when Barack Obama will be formally chosen as its candidate for president of the United States.
Centre stage at the opening of the four-day event in Denver, Colorado, went to the Illinois senator's wife Michelle, who praised her husband's humble nature and noted her own patriotism.
"What struck me when I first met Barack was that even though he had this funny name, and even though he'd grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine," Mrs Obama told the convention.
"He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents, and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills just like we did."
Mr Obama, who last week chose veteran lawmaker Joe Biden as his running-mate, is currently campaigning in the Midwest and is due to address the convention tomorrow.
Also appearing on opening day was Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy, who was diagnosed with cancer of the brain earlier this year.
He spoke of the Democratic party's 'new hope' when he took to the stage.
The beginning of the convention had threatened to be overshadowed by reports of a rift between supporters of Mr Obama and Hillary Clinton, who had hoped to be the Democrats' White House nominee.
Mrs Clinton and husband Bill are due to address the convention on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, while Mr Obama will deliver the keynote address on Thursday – the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech.